Narai

Hi,

We are planning to stay one night in Narai, one night in Tsumago.

We are currently booked at minshuku near Narai station. Is Narai easily walkable? How many minutes, leisurely walk from North to south end?

Anyone do the Kiso-torii hike? Is it similar to Kumono Kodo Nakahechi? Looks steep and read somewhere it is the most difficult portion of Nakasendo.

Is there a link for bus service in area?

Thanks, PH

Hi there

Is Narai easily walkable? How many minutes, leisurely walk from North to south end?

Yes, very walkable. It's basically one straight street about a kilometre long. But there are lots of shops, cafes etc to stop and look at. So how long depends on how often times you stop along the way.

Anyone do the Kiso-torii hike? Is it similar to Kumono Kodo Nakahechi? Looks steep and read somewhere it is the most difficult portion of Nakasendo.

Do you mean the hike over the Torii Pass from Narai to Yabuhara? I have done it, but I have not done the Kumano Kodo so I cannot compare the two. The Torii Pass hike goes over the pass, so it's hard going up and easy going down! The scenery is pleasant enough (from memory, it's mostly on a hiking track, away from any roads), but I walked it during the autumn and could enjoy the autumn colours. I would not say it was the hardest part of the Nakasendo (again from memory, Wada Pass and Usui Pass were tougher), but it is rather steep.

Is there a link for bus service in area?

Can't answer that. But you can catch train from Yabuhara to Nagiso and get a bus (or hike) from there to Tsumago.

Forgot to say, it's about 6 km from Narai to Yabuhara. It took me just over 2 hours to walk.

Is there a link for bus service in area?

Where exactly do you want to go? Here's a link to a map showing bus stops nearby:

https://mb.jorudan.co.jp/os/bus/2059/line/27482.html

Narai train station is #2. The bus stop at the south end of Narai is #3 on the map.

Here's a link to a PDF time table and map:

http://www.city.shiojiri.lg.jp/kurashi/sinkobus/rosen-zikoku.files/27n...

Walkingfool and Shinshu,

Thank you, exact information I was seeking!

PH

Shinshu-

Ha, ha, thank you for link to map and timetable....I cannot read Japanese! :) Also, love local buses, but, we always get lost, which leads to delightful extra tour of area :) So we really need to be sure of correct stop.

Is there a bus between Narai and Yabuhara? We will arrive in Narai from Matsumoto.

Thank you, PH

Sorry. I'm not aware of a bus that runs that exact route.

There's the train. It costs only 200 yen and takes just 6 minutes.
Some afternoon/evening times:
Narai 15:19 - Yabuhara 15:24
Narai 16:29 - Yabuhara 16:35
Narai 17:29 - Yabuhara 17:35
Narai 19:13 - Yabuhara 19:19

It's only about 6 km., so in a pinch, call a cab, especially if you have a small group of say 3 or 4.

Thank you!!